Peoplefinder.com and Western Union

[Unregistered]

Hi Everyone,
I'm new here and was I wondering if anyone has had a similar experience.Last week I got a call from Western Union saying they just stopped a transfer of money using my Debit card.The first attempt was for $60 to Alaska and then one for $1000 to Lebanon.Since the call woke me up I was like,whaaaaat?
So immediately after talking to Western Union I got a call that was a recorded voice saying hello every 5 seconds or so.I hung up.then I get another call and someone asks for me by name,then a family member by name.So now I'm getting worried.I say who is this? They give me a name and I say,don't call here and hang up.So I go ahead and do everything I'm supposed to do as far as closing the account,FTC,etc...
Here's the part I don't get.The first thing they did with my CC number(still have the card)was to run a background check on me with Peoplefinder.com for about about $39.This is how they got my Telephone#,relatives first names and other info.
So what's the story with Peoplefinder? Do they really think they're entitled to my $39?

[Aeval]

Welcome to FraudWatchers!

I think I can shed some light on your situation.

The people who fraudulently used your debit card had a good reason to run a background check on you online. Information obtained from such background checks is priceless, because it allows someone else to assume your identity.

First and foremost, dispute the fraudulent charges with the bank that issued the debit card to you. Don't take no for an answer, ask to speak with either Security or Fraud Prevention Department and make sure you are provided with a fraudulent transaction affidavit.

Peoplefinders will probably not refund the fraudulent charge, that's why it's best to go through your bank and notify them of fraud. Your bank has its own internal procedures to deal with a situation like yours, and they will quite certainly place a conditional refund of the money into your account while investigating your claim.

Secondly, please direct your next steps to the Identity Theft Center, and download the publication available at this link:

http://www.idtheftcenter.org/vg100.shtml

You will need the free Adobe Acrobat software to view it.

Please do let us know if you would like further information or require additional help.

[Unregistered]

Thanks for the info.Western Union explained the use of family members names.It was simply to prolong the conversation and tie up the phone to prevent me from getting back to Western Union to cancel the money transfer which they cancelled anyway.I have no problem with anyone running a background check on me with a website like peoplefinder,but for peoplefinder to be totally unaccountable in a situation like this makes no sense to me.

[Nyla]

Actually, if you look at it from Peoplefinder's point of view, it makes sense that they would not directly refund the fee without making you go to the trouble of disputing the charge formally with your card issuer.

Peoplefinder legally gathers information, compiles it, and sells it to whomever is willing to pay for it. That is their entire business model. Once a person pays for that information, they release it, probably electronically, over the internet. Unlike, say, a company that sells appliances, they cannot pop around and "repossess" the goods if they go unpaid for. There is no way to take the report back.

Sad to say, but a lot of companies that provide an "instant service" rather than a physical product find themselves on the other end of frequent demands for refunds, not all of them entirely legitimate. I know it's a great inconvenience to do so, but on the other hand, I can't really fault Peoplefinder for having that sort of policy, given that they deal in data as opposed to a more traditional inventory. Being willing to dispute the charge with your card issuer proves two things. First, that you are serious about the charge being fraudulent, and second, it allows your card issuer to confirm that you are not in the habit of purchasing things, then disputing the charge to receive a refund. Unfortunately, there are some card holders who do exactly that on a regular basis. With a bit of patience and perseverence, I'm sure the bank will uphold your dispute of the charge.

[Unregistered]

Thanks again for your responses.It turns out Peoplefinder and-or the bank did not charge me,so I'm not actually out anything except the time it took to change info with everyone.I think it was a shoulder-surfer who got me.Live and learn.

[Unregistered]

My Identity was just stol.en for the first time I am aware and now someone in Indonesia is $1000 richer for my pains.

The thief somehow got access to my card number and used it with Peoplefinders.com where they gladly charged "me" 59.95 to provide "me" with my own address history and criminal history for the last 20 years. Awesome.

The thief then used my card to secure two Western Union money transfers to Indonesia. What a pain. My condolences to anyone else in similar straits. When will real security processes be put into place? I certainly am demanding it myself.

[Frazzle]

Real security will come into place when it costs the Credit Card company more in losses than it would cost to put in a real security system. Therefore, quite apart from the money issue, it is really important to shift the losses from you to your CC provider.

I don't know about the law where you are, but where I live you aren't liable for transactions on your credit card that you didn't approve. Provided that you have taken reasonable care to protect the PIN.

Assuming you haven't provided your PIN to someone over the Net, contact your CC provider and dispute all the charges... the $1000 to WU, as well as the $59.95 to Peoplefinders.com.

This way, it costs your CC provider. Maybe they get there money back from Peoplefinders.com, which will persuade them to be a bit more rigorous with their CC checks too.